Hercules and the Hydra and Hercules and Antaeus, Photograph of two paintings that depict the Seven Labors of Hercules, first Hercules slaying the Hydra and Hercules fighting Antaeus. Both scenes are depicted in an outdoor landscape. On the left, Hercules and the Hydra, takes place near a serpentine river, likely meant to depict Lake Lerna- where the hydra was said to live. Hercules holds his notorious club and wears a lion fur on his head. On the right Hercules battles Antaeus, the half giant child of Poseidon and Gaia who could not be defeated as long as he had contact with the earth-his mother. Hercules, instead chose to hold Antaeus aloft, defeating him by crushing him above ground., 1460

 Item — Box: 83
Identifier: spc-mss0088-s02-ss02-i1573

Staff Only
Hercules and the Hydra and Hercules and Antaeus, Photograph of two paintings that depict the Seven Labors of Hercules, first Hercules slaying the Hydra and Hercules fighting Antaeus. Both scenes are depicted in an outdoor landscape. On the left, Hercules and the Hydra, takes place near a serpentine river, likely meant to depict Lake Lerna- where the hydra was said to live. Hercules holds his notorious club and wears a lion fur on his head. On the right Hercules battles Antaeus, the half giant child of Poseidon and Gaia who could not be defeated as long as he had contact with the earth-his mother. Hercules, instead chose to hold Antaeus aloft, defeating him by crushing him above ground.

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Scope and Contents

Vanderbilt photo identifier: SC.MSS.088.FLOR.6550; Public Notes: Duplicate found in box 268 SC.MSS.088.DUPL.0008

Dates

  • Creation: 1460

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection may be viewed only in the reading room of Special Collections in the Jean and Alexander Heard Library. Collections should be requested 2-3 days prior to visiting in order to facilitate easier access. For questions or to request a collection, contact specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu.

Biographical / Historical

Subjects: Panel Paintings; Paintings; Hercules; Hydras; Tempera Paintings; Animals; Mythological Creatures; Roman and Greek Mythology; Antaeus; Classical Gods and Goddesses; Twelve Labors of Hercules; Male Subjects; Landscape; School: Florence; Style period: Early Renaissance; Technique: painting (technique); Work type: paintings

Full Extent

1 Items : Image Work Type: photographic print ; Image height (in.): 7.2; Image width (in.): 9.3in.

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

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